DesJarlais says GOP health care plan will be affordable

WASHINGTON — Rep. Scott DesJarlais would still prefer to see a total repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

But for now, he’ll settle for leaving parts of the 7-year-old law intact and replacing other parts with reforms he thinks will make health insurance more affordable.

“My number one priority has been to improve affordability, access and quality health care for my constituents,” said the South Pittsburg Republican, who announced his support last week for the latest House GOP proposal to replace parts of former President Barack Obama’s signature health care law.

DesJarlais’ support is noteworthy because the last time the GOP put forth a plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, he was not on board.

Opposition from DesJarlais and other hardline conservatives in the House Freedom Caucus helped sink that proposal.

Now a revised version of that shelved bill is on the table and has the backing of the Freedom Caucus, including DesJarlais. The House could vote on the updated proposal this week.

The new language — negotiated by Freedom Caucus chairman Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and New Jersey Rep. Tom MacArthur, who chairs a moderate group of Republicans — preserves some of the popular mandates of Obamacare, such as requiring insurers cover maternity care and emergency room visits.

But it also addresses the concerns of DesJarlais and some other conservatives that the original version did not go far enough in repealing Obamacare’s mandates on the coverage insurers are required to provide.

One reason he’s confident: Insurers would still be required to sell policies to people with pre-existing conditions but could charge them higher premiums. The revised legislation provides money for high-risk pools to help lower costs for people with pre-existing conditions.